US 11,921,290 B2
Augmented reality display having liquid crystal variable focus element and roll-to-roll method and apparatus for forming the same
Roy Matthew Patterson, Hutto, TX (US); Chulwoo Oh, Cedar Park, TX (US); Ravi Kumar Komanduri, Austin, TX (US); Charles Scott Carden, Austin, TX (US); Michael Nevin Miller, Austin, TX (US); Vikramjit Singh, Pflugerville, TX (US); and Shuqiang Yang, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed by Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed on Jan. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/145,181.
Application 17/145,181 is a division of application No. 16/171,111, filed on Oct. 25, 2018, granted, now 10,890,769.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/577,678, filed on Oct. 26, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0132394 A1, May 6, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 27/01 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01); G02F 1/29 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 27/0172 (2013.01) [G02B 6/0076 (2013.01); G02F 1/29 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0112 (2013.01); G02F 1/294 (2021.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A display device comprising:
a waveguide assembly comprising a waveguide configured to output light to display an image; and
an adaptive lens assembly having a major surface facing a major surface of the waveguide, the adaptive lens assembly comprising:
a waveplate lens comprising a liquid crystal polymer layer; and
a switchable waveplate assembly comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate defining a volume therebetween, wherein the first substrate is a first quarter-wave plate and the second substrate is a second quarter-wave plate, and wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are composed of a non-liquid crystal material that is optically transmissive and pliable;
a liquid crystal layer disposed within the volume;
a first set of guides for aligning liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, the first set of guides comprising a first electrode pattern disposed in the volume and directly on the first substrate; and
a second set of guides for aligning the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, the second set of guides comprising a second electrode pattern disposed in the volume and directly on the second substrate;
wherein the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern extend into the liquid crystal layer and are configured to selectively apply an electric field, and
wherein the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern are configured to:
cause a first orientation of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer when the electric field is not applied, to cause the adaptive lens assembly to provide a first optical power, and
cause a second orientation of the liquid crystal molecules when the electric field is applied, to cause the adaptive lens assembly to provide a second optical power that is different than the first optical power.
 
6. An adaptive lens assembly comprising:
a waveplate lens comprising a liquid crystal polymer layer;
a switchable waveplate assembly comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate defining a volume therebetween, wherein the first substrate is a first quarter-wave plate and the second substrate is a second quarter-wave plate, and wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are composed of a non-liquid crystal material that is optically transmissive and pliable;
a liquid crystal layer disposed within the volume;
a first set of guides for aligning liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, the first set of guides comprising a first electrode pattern disposed in the volume and directly on the first substrate; and
a second set of guides for aligning the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer, the second set of guides comprising a second electrode pattern disposed in the volume and directly on the second substrate;
wherein the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern extend into the liquid crystal layer and are configured to selectively apply an electric field, and
wherein the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern are configured to:
cause a first orientation of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer when the electric field is not applied, to cause the switchable waveplate assembly to provide a first optical power, and
cause a second orientation of the liquid crystal molecules when the electric field is applied, to cause the switchable waveplate assembly to provide a second optical power that is different than the first optical power.